- Atlanta native preparing to contest New Zealand’s Formula Regional Oceania Championship
- Rising star keen to ‘carry momentum forward’ from podium-finishing 2024 GB3 campaign
- Single-seater ace eyeing acquisition of FIA Super Licence Points in pursuit of Formula 1 goal
Rising American open-wheel racer Shawn Rashid is aiming to follow in the footsteps of some of the biggest stars in the sport over the coming weeks, as he endeavours to accelerate his career progression by contesting New Zealand’s Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship.
Buoyed by an encouraging sophomore campaign in the fiercely-disputed GB3 Championship – yielding a breakthrough podium finish at the legendary ‘Home of British Motor Racing’, Silverstone – Rashid has kept himself busy lately testing a Formula 2 single-seater, in readiness for a prospective step-up to the Formula 1 feeder series this year.
Ahead of that, the Atlanta, GA native will test his mettle on some of New Zealand’s most charismatic, challenging and iconic circuits – demanding a blend of precision, technique and speed – as he joins MTEC Motorsport for the milestone 20th edition of the Formula Regional Oceania Championship, officially recognised by international motorsport’s governing body the FIA as one of six global Formula Regional Championships.
Renowned for producing successful grand prix, IndyCar and World Endurance Championship drivers, no fewer than 21 graduates of the southern hemisphere nation’s premier single-seater series have subsequently gone on to compete in F1 – four of them last season, including world championship runner-up, Lando Norris.
A five-round competition awaits. Following the Taupo International Motorsport Park curtain-raiser on 10-12 January, the action will continue at Hampton Downs International Motorsport Park (17-19 January), Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon (24-26 January) and Teretonga Park – the country’s oldest permanent motorsport venue – on 31 January – 2 February.
The busy back-to-back schedule will conclude with the prestigious 69th New Zealand Grand Prix at Highlands Motorsport Park on 7-9 February. One of only two FIA-sanctioned grands prix outside of Formula 1, the world-class event attracts drivers from around the globe and boasts winning names of the calibre of Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren, Jackie Stewart, Keke Rosberg and – more recently – Shane van Gisbergen.
The car with which Rashid will head into battle – the state-of-the-art FT-60 – is akin to a scaled-down F1 single-seater with its Tatuus chassis and all of the key recent safety initiatives developed by the FIA, including the famous ‘halo’ driver protection system. Furthermore, an FIA-homologated engine produces a potent 285bhp, making it one of the best-performing junior cars on the organisation’s pathway to the pinnacle of the sport.
“I’m stoked to be taking part in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship,” enthused the Purdue University Industrial Engineering graduate, who is currently based in Oxford, UK. “I felt like I made a lot of progress over the course of my second season in GB3 last year, and I’m eager to carry that momentum forward and continue building on my performance.
“The series looks to be an exciting challenge, and from what I’ve seen so far, the circuits seem pretty epic and the racing fast and frantic! I’m looking forward to locking horns with a whole host of new rivals from different championships and backgrounds, and I’m determined to make the very most of the experience both on and off-track.
“Not only that, but getting some competitive warm-weather running in during the traditionally quiet European winter offers an invaluable opportunity to refine my skills ahead of my main campaign in 2025, more details of which will follow in due course. So stay tuned!”
“We’re really looking forward to working with Shawn,” added MTEC Motorsport Team Principal, Bruin Beasley. “He’s extremely driven and always puts 100 per cent into his programme. His passion and desire is infectious, and I’m sure he will grow massively as a driver over the coming weeks.”
Those sentiments are echoed by Rashid’s manager, former British Touring Car Championship Independents’ title-winner, Rory Butcher.
“In evaluating Shawn’s racing calendar for 2025, we were looking for ways for him get as much seat time as possible, and with four days on-track per event – equating to more than 3,500km in total – during a period when some European circuits are covered in snow, entering the Formula Regional Oceania Championship was something of a no-brainer,” explained the Scot.
“Not only is it a cost-effective option to conduct some vital winter training in a southern hemisphere summer, but with not a great deal of other single-seater action taking place in January and February, it has the unique benefit of attracting the attention of the wider world.
“The racing is invariably close and competitive, and with as many as 18 FIA Super Licence Points up for grabs for the top championship finishers, it offers Shawn a fantastic opportunity to take a further step towards his ultimate goal of securing a place on the F1 grid. We’re excited to get started!”